R. Lee Ermey is a retired U.S Marine Corps drill instructor and actor. He has often
played the roles of authority figures, such as his breakout performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket (1987), Mayor Tilman in the Alan Parker film Mississippi Burning (1988), the sheriff in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) remake, and the voice of the plastic army men leader Sarge in the Toy Story films (1995, 1999, 2010). Ermey has hosted two programs on the History Channel: Mail Call, in which he answered viewers’ questions about the military ,both modern and historic; and Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey, which focused on the development of various types of weapons.

Ermey in Full Metal Jacket

R. Lee Ermey in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Lee Marvin at first did supporting roles, mostly villains and soldiers ,but after winning
an Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual roles in Cat Ballou (1965), he landed
more heroic, leading roles. Marvin left school to join the U.S. Marine Corps, serving
as a Scout Sniper. He was wounded in action during the WW ll battle of Saipan and
was awarded the Purple Heart.

1967

 
World War ll U.S. Marine Corps pilot Gregory “Pappy”
Boyington was born in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho and
moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington. His
initial flying was with the Flying  Tigers and was 
later commander of the famous Black Sheep
Squadron. He died on January 11, 1988. He
was 75.

Boyington being awarded the Medal Of Honor in 1945
by President Harry S. Truman.

                       Boyington’s Corsair F-4U.

                     ”Pappy” shortly before his death.

 
The United States marine Corps was formed on this date in 1775 under the
authority of the Continental Congress.